By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
Mr. Issa Aremu, the Director General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), has warned Nigerians to beware of leaderless protests that can lead to the disruption of peace in the country.
Aremu gave the advise in Ilorin while speaking at the 2024 Policy Seminar series of the Institute.
The theme of the seminar is entitled: “Democratic, Human And Workers Rights: An Inevitable Tripology For Human Development.”
He called for an all inclusive National Social Dialogue led by organized Labour on the current economic challenges as against “leaderless protests” that could lead to unhelpful and avoidable anarchy.
The director general cautioned against what he calls, leaderless protests in Africa, adding that “protests without clear cut agenda are destroying countries like Sudan and Kenya which Nigeria should not copy.”
He observed that while Nigeria celebrates 25 years of uninterrupted democratic process, there are still “anti-democratic forces” lurking around to truncate democracy .
According to him, the challenges of democracy can only be overcome through “more democracy, inclusive dialogue between the government and the people “.
Aremu commended the 10th National Assembly for the speedy passage of the new N70, 000 minimum wage bill as proposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He, therefore called on civil society to emulate the approach of organized labour in engaging in policy contestation through peaceful dialogue on rising cost of living.
In his paper presentation, Mr Owei Lakemfa, the President, Society for International Relations Awareness, (SIRA) observed that government must do more to perfect its democracy on solving the needs of its citizens.
“The Constitution states that two primary reasons for the existence of government are the welfare are welfare of the people and their security,” he said.
According to him,the unprecedented hyperinflation is as a result of devaluation of naira and removal of subsidy.
Lakemfa posited that the challenge of Nigeria is how to make democracy work in terms of food, primary, healthcare, shelter, work and education.
He observed that according to the International Bill of Human Rights gave rights of freedom of movement, equality before the law and freedom of though, conscience and expression among others.
Lakemfa urge the government to ease the plight of the citizens and uphold these enshrined rights.